Agriculture: Introduction
Segments
Bean and Grain Farming
Companies in this segment grow grains and beans such as soybeans, oilseeds, dry peas and beans, wheat, corn, rice, and oilseed and grains.
Confectionery Products
Establishments within this segment grow and sell tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, and sugar beets.
Farm Management Services
This segment is comprised of establishments that provide farm management services on a contract or fee basis.
Fish and Crustaceans
Companies in this segment raise fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals.
Floriculture
Companies within the floriculture segment grow and product products including flowers, cultivated greens, foliage plants, and flower seeds.
Fruit Farming
Establishments within this segment grow fruits including, but not limited to, oranges, citrus, apples, grapes, strawberries, and other berries.
Live Animals
In this segment, companies raise or fatten animals in order to sell them.
Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating
This segment includes companies that perform social preparation activities including plowing, fertilizing, seed bed preparation, planting, cultivating, and crop protection services.
Vegetable Farming
Companies in this segment produce vegetable and melon crops, seeds, and bedding plants. Major products include potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuces.
The Agriculture industry is Fragmented. The production in this industry is divided among a few different companies, however, no single firm has large enough share of the market to be able to influence the industry's direction or price levels.
Primary Demand Drivers
- Government agricultural policy programs
- Food consumption trends
- Labor demand
Profitability Drivers
- Efficient operations
From the Blog 
Major African cocoa plants in Ivory Coast and Ghana have reduced processing chocolate due to inability to purchase beans. These two countries together contribute nearly 60% of the world's cocoa production. Rising temperatures and weather conditions have stressed and damaged these crops in West Africa, and this halt is anticipated to lead to a surge in chocolate prices globally. Following three years of little cocoa harvests- and another three anticipated- chocolate manufacturers have already raised prices for consumers, with chocolate prices doubling over the last year and rising to all-time highs.
Rice, a food staple in many countries, holds cultural and dietary significance in Japan. However, concerns are growing over the future of rice farmers in Japan as the demand for this essential food experiences a decline. The rice industry faces additional challenges with the recent ban on rice exports from India, one of the world’s leading rice exporters. The once-stable and crucial rice sector faces uncertainties threatening its long-standing role in Japanese agriculture and the global economy.
Sources
- Hoovers (Date Accessed: 6/1/2017)